Reloading-machine for cartridges and shells.



S. G. WRAY. RELOADING P'AOHINE FOR CARTRIDGES AND SHELLS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.11, 1910.

Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

aha aw SILAS G. WRAY, OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO.

RELOADING-MAGHINE FOR CARTRIDGES AND SHELLS.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Dec. 28, 31.911.

Application filed April 11, 1910. Serial No. 554,803.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Sums G. WRAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grand Junction. Colorado, have invented a new and usefulImproi ement in Reloading- Machines for Cartridges and Shells, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for reloading shells or cartridges,and its objectis to provide a conveniently portable machine operable toremove the exploded cap and replace it with an explosive cap.

Other objects are to'be attained by my invention, all of which willappear from the following description, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one embodiment of thein vention, and in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of the machine andthe decapping mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail view of thedevice employed to press into position the new explosive cap. Fig. is aview of the cap pressing device detached from the support.

The machine in the embodiment shown,

comprises an upper member 1, and a lower member 2, pivotally united atone end by a hingepin 3, which is rigid and turns with theuppermember 1. Said members are parallel and, in close adjustment,contact with each-other, ,in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Each of saidmembers is provided with an operating handle 4, whereby they may beproperly manipulated to perform the different functions hereinafterattributed to them.

Near one end of the members 1 and 2 is a threaded hole 5, extendingthrough both of. said members. A. loading chamber 6 is provided withexterior threads, and is operable i-n'to the threaded opening in thelower member 2, and may be provided with a amnut'7, adapted to engageagainst the sur face of thelower member to prevent accidentaldisplacement, by rotation of said chamber. The lower extremity of theload ing chamber '6 is interiorly threaded, for

engagement with a threaded plug 8,- the inner end of which contains apointed depression 9. A decapping element 10 (Fig. 1) has a pointed end11, adapted to it into the depression 9. 'A projection 12 projects froma hole in the opposite or upper end of the member 10,wherein it isretained by a set-screw 13. The upper member 1 supports within thethreaded hole therein, a cylindrical punch member 1 1, retained againstdisplacement by a jam-nut 15, which engages against the outer surface ofsaid member 1. A screw-stem 16, operates with-' in the punch member 14,and is provided with a turning handle 17 on its outer end.

The plunger 18 is connected with. the inner end of screw-stem 16 by aswivel connection 19, for the purposes hereinafter explained, and theinner end of said plunger has a hole 20 therein, for the reception, whenneeded for recapping as hereinafter explained, of a plug 21, retainedtherein by springs 22 which press against the walls of i said opening.

In decapping operations, the element 10 is placed within chamber 6, withits pointed end 11 resting within depression 9.' The en ploded shell isthen inserted within chamber 6, over and'around member 10, with the exploded cap resting upon the top of the plug 12, the plug 18 beingelevated within punch 14 till its lower end is above that of said punch.The member 1 is then closed upon member 2, which operation brings thelower end of the punch 14: in contact with the outer rim of the shell;when. a further forcing together of member 1 and, 2 will dislodge theexploded cap and the end of plug 12 will protrude through the opening.in the upper end of the shell, from which 21; the shell being replacedinto loading chamber 6, the new explosive cap is then forced manuallyinto the opening in the shell and the members 1 and 2 are; then broughttogether pressing the plug 21 down upon the 'cap, and forcing the latterinto its seat in the shell. The shell is now en- I tirely ready forreloading.

.I provide also an extractor 38 connected with the member 1, whereby theloaded shell may be automatically released from the loading chamber,when the members 1 and 2 are separated.

I am, aware there may be modifications of this invention, in variousways; and I do not,'therefore, restrict myself to the specific featuresdescribed, nor to the relative adjustments attributed to them, for it isobvious that they may be used in various adjustments within the scope ofthe; appended claims, without departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ismembers, aprojection removably mounted in said .chamber and arranged ,to ressagainst the inner side of an explode cap in the shell, and a ressure orpunch memberiadju's'tably parried by the other of said hinged. membersand arranged. to press the rim of the shell eflectively to cause saidprojection to remove the exploded cap, substan-- tially as specified.

2. A machine of the character described,

comprising two members hinged together,

a shell support removably mounted in one of said members, a projectionon said shell support arranged to press against the inner side of soapon a shell, on said support, a hollow plungercarried by the other one ofsaid hinged members and operable to press the shell on said supportefiectiv'ely to cause the said projection to remove the cap from 'theshelhand an extractor efiective to re lease the shell from said shellsupport, substantially as specified.

3. In a device 0% the character described,

two members'hinged together, a chamber removably'carried by one er saidmembers arranged to'lrrecei've an empty shell, apart 1n said chamberarranged to be embraced in the empty shell, a projection on said partarranged to press against-the inner side of the ea in the shell, apluiflgeron the other one 0 said hinged members: arranged to press theshell e ectively' to cause the part aforesaid to eject the cap from theshell and automatic means for releasing the shell from said chamber whensaid hinged mem- 1. A machine of the character described,- -comprisingtwo members hinged together, a chamber removably carried by one ofsaidchamber when said supp'ortis removed, substantially as specified.

- 5. A machine for decapping and capping shells, comprising a chamberarranged to receive-the empty shell, a movable plunger,

devices operable effectively to eject the cap from the shell in saidchamber, a cap holder carried by said plunger and being operableeffectively to press a cap into said shell, and means engaging with theshell efiectively .to release the shell from said chamber-when saidplunger is withdrawn therefrom, substantiallyas specified. I

,6. The combination with a chamber ar-- ranged to receive an emptyshell, and cooperating .devlces movable toward each other elfectively toeject the cap from the shell, of an element carried by one of saiddevices arranged to engage with the shell when said devices are closetogether and' to release said shell from said chamber when said devicesare moved away from each other, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with two members hinged together and arranged to bemoved toward and away from each other, a shell support in one of saidhinged members, and cotiperating devices acting effectively to eject thecap from the shell in said support, when said members are moved towardeach other ofa device carriednby the other one of said hinged membersoperable effectively to re lease the shell from said support when saidmembers are moved away from each other,-

substantially as specified.

8. A,m'achine of the character described, comprising two members hingedtogether, one of said members being arranged to support a cartridge, ahollow punch member adjustably carried by the other of said members, acap forming and supporting device carried in said punch member, andmeans for withdrawing said devicerelatively a considerable distance fromthe end of the said punch member as required for decapping operations,substantially as specified.

9. machineof the character described,

condprrsing two members hinged together,

a; cartridge support in one of said members,

means movable carried by said support for I ejecting a cap from theshell, a punch car- In testimony whereof I have signed this ried' by theother of said members and cospecification in the presence of twosubscrib- 10 operating with said cap ejecting means, a ,ingwitnesses.

cap presser in said punch, and means for 5 operating said cap presser asrequired to SIL'AS W make room for the ejection of the explodedWitnesses: cap and to insert a new cap in place thereof, GERTRUDE G.RUssEnL, substantially as specified. W. S. Gnimm

